Supermodel Kate Moss has become involved in a local planning dispute in her picturesque Cotswolds village, formally objecting to a neighbour's proposed development over serious concerns about the area's failing sewage infrastructure.
The Core of the Dispute
The conflict centres on plans submitted by Moss's neighbour, Mary Oakes, to West Oxfordshire District Council. Mrs Oakes, who purchased a luxury property in Little Faringdon for nearly £1 million in 2024, sought permission for extensions to her main house and a new standalone garden room. This outbuilding was designed to include an office, gym, and crucially, a bathroom.
It was this proposed bathroom that triggered Moss's objection. Through her representatives, the model stated she had no comment on the house extensions but firmly opposed the garden room. The objection highlighted that 'the means of foul drainage is unclear' for the new building, raising the alarm about adding more pressure to a system already in crisis.
A Village Under Strain
Little Faringdon, a small village of just 30 properties, has been battling a sewage system described by the Environment Agency as 'no longer fit for purpose'. The system is reportedly regularly overwhelmed by the volume of surface and foul water, making the village prone to flooding.
Other residents echo Moss's concerns. Pauline Rushton and Andrew Sumner told The Telegraph that 'the existing infrastructure is not in place for the existing village and certainly not for any expansion'. Moss's objection also cited potential harm to the rural character and damage to boundary trees and hedging, but the sewage issue was the primary contention.
Past Problems and Present Peace
This is not Kate Moss's first encounter with sewage troubles. In 2010, her north London home suffered significant damage after a basement pump failed, flooding the property with wastewater and resulting in a repair bill estimated at around £100,000.
In contrast, Moss has frequently expressed her love for her countryside life in Little Faringdon, where she bought a mansion for £2.5 million in 2004. She has described it as a place where she can enjoy a simpler life, reminiscent of a childhood adventure. Following the submission of the objections, Mrs Oakes revised her plans and removed the contentious garden room proposal.
The dispute underscores a wider issue affecting many rural communities in the UK, where ageing infrastructure struggles to cope with new development, putting local ecosystems and residents' homes at risk.
